Autonomous apparatus for neutralizing and bleaching heated oleaginous liquids under vacuum



Feb. 25, 1930. 1,748,274

AUTONOMOUS APPARATUS FOR NEUTRALIZING AND BLEAGHING HEATED OLEAGINOUS LIQUIDS UNDER VACUUM Filed Oct. 6, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 25, 1930. E. BATAILLE 1,748,274

AUTONOMOUS APPARATUS FOR NEUTRALIZING AND BLEACHING HEATED OLEAGINOUS LIQUIDS UNDER VACUUM Filed 0ct. 6, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Feb.25, 1930. E. BATAILLE 1,748,274

AUTONOMOUS APPARATUS FOR NEUTRALIZING AND BLEACHING HEATED OLEAGINOUS LIQUIDS UNDER VACUUM Filed Oct. 6, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 2 5, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I nDoUARn BA'rAI LE, or PARIS, FRANCE AU'roNomfoUs APrAnA'rUs FOB NEUTRALrzmG AND BLEACHING HEATED OLEAGI- Nous LIQUIDS UNDER VACUUM Application filed October 6, 1924, Serial No. 742,024, and in France April 30, 1924.

In principle, oils are neutralized by the addition of a suitable quantity of soda solution in order to neutralize the free fatty'acids, the mixture being subjected to the combined action of stirring and heating; This operation is performed in vacuo'in the known manner, which is advantageous .as rendering anhydrous the soaps formed by the combination ofthe soda and the fatty acids, while" 1 at the same time the soap which is produced in the state of fine grains is separated from the oil by decantation. For the bleaching of the oils, the operation is performed in like manner, with the further addition of the proper quantity of a bleaching substance such as fullers earth, animal black or the like, a smaller amount of the bleaching substance being used in the vacuum process than when operating at atmospheric pressure.

But the known types of apparatus for the neutralizing and bleaching of oil or other liquids operating by the action of heatv and in vacuo are mounted upon the general vacuum piping of the works, and this causes disturbances in the said piping due to the frequent -admission of air which occurs when the said apparatus are filled and emptied.

The present invention relates to an arrangement obviating this drawback and further allowing the oil and the soda solution to be accurately measured out; the mixing can be properly eflectedythe loss of heat is also obviated as far as possible; in the bleaching process, should the original amount of the bleaching substance prove insufficient, an additional quantity of said substance can be readily supplied during the operation without decreasing of the vacuum.

The arrangement according to the invention is essentially characterized by the fact that the oil-treating apparatus orchamber, known per se, is entirely autonomous and independent of the vacuum pipingof the works, the vacuum being produced therein solely by means of a steam ejector whose steam draws forward with itself the vapours produced by the evaporation of the liquid-treated under the vacuum, both steam and vapours being employed for the heating of the chamber. According to the invention, one may add to the treating chamber suitable tanks for me'as- 1 uring the supplies of oil or other liquid under treatment and of the soda solution or other reagent, and the vacuum produced in said chamber will serve, by the simple opening of cocks, to transfer automatically the said liquids from their. containing tanks to the treating chamber. One may further insert in the oil feeding conduit a box containing a bleaching substance, with facilities for adding at the end of the operation, a smallcomplement of the said substance should the desired bleaching not be fully obtained. 1

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is-a diagrammatic view of a plant according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the treating chamber. 1

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the chamber taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the treating chamber.

This plant comprises the oil treating apparatus properly so called, consisting of the cylindrical body or'chamber 1 and the steam jacket 2, a measuring feed tank 3 for the 011, and a measuring feed tank 4 for the soda solution, said tanks being connected with the oil-treating chamber by the conduits 6 and 5 respectively provided with the cooks 6 and 5'; in the conduit 6 is inserted the box 7 containing a bleaching substance and tightly closed by the removable cover 8, it being situated between the cock 6 and another cock 9. The chamber of the oil-treating apparatus comprises a steam dome 10 upon which is disposed a four-way union 11 connecting the said dome at the top with a safety valve 12 and on one side-through the pipe 13 and the cock 14-with the steam ejector 15 whose outlet communicates at 16 with the steam jacket 2. The fourth way of the said union is normally closed by a plug, but if desired thesaid apparatus may be connected by this way to another vacuum conduit. 17' 1s the live steam admission to the ejector and 18 .the hand wheel controlling the needle of the latter. The chamber 1 is provided with a stirring device, together with its controlling means, and with a conduit for the discharge of the oil after treatment, as well as a manhole, and an inspection glass; the said acket is provided with a discharge conduit for the condensed water. The feeding conduit 19 for the oil measuring tank 3 is provided with a stop cock 20, and a float operated valve 21.

An overflow 22 is provided, the heightof which is determined in accordance with the capacity of the tank 3 whereby the exact quantity of oil required is determinedtthe oil tank may be emptied by a valve 23, pro-,

vided at the bottom part of said'tank.

The operation is as follows: To carry out the neutralizing process', the oil to be treated is first measured out, as well as the quantity of soda solution required to neutralize the free fatty acid. The required quantity of soda solution is controlled by means of a graduated scale/l0 or other similar and appropriate means. The steam ,ejector 15 'is then'set in action whereby a vacuum is produced in the treatingchamber,

and the steam jacket is heated. The oil andthe soda solution, after opening cocks 6, 9

' -and 5 respectively, are simultaneously drawn into the treating chambe'r, under the effect of said vacuum. The stirring device is then set in motion. Stirring is continued until a sample taken offers no traces of soap flakes, but contains grains which are rapidly precipitated to the bottom of the test tube.

When the operation is completed, the oiltreating chamber is emptied for a succeeding operation.

In the bleaching process, the quantity of oil to be treated is measured out, and one adds (if desired) directly to the oil measuring tank the major part of the requisite amount of bleaching substance; after starting the ejector, the cocks'6 and 9are opened and the oil and bleaching substance mixture is drawn into the oil heating chamber; the

stirring device operates in vacuo and thesteam jacket is heated by the operation of the steam jet to a temperature of approximately 210 degrees Fahrenheit until the desired degree of bleaching is reached, the temperature-in the oil treating chamber being held at about 175 degrees Fahrenheit during the entire operation if deemed necessary towards the end of the operation, a slight additional quantity of bleaching substance maybe introduced into the box 7, and by reopening cocks 6' and 9, this additional bleaching substance, under the effect of the prevailing vacuum, is drawn into the oil treating chamber 1 together with a' small embodiment of the treating chamber. The said chamber is cylindrical, with convex ends,

and is traversed by a horizontal shaft 24 of square section upon which are mounted the arms 25 supporting a helical member 26; for mountlng, the said helical member is inplurality of tapered baflle members in sheet metal 28 for breaking up'the foam. The said chamber is provided with an aperture 41 for the removal of samples, a thermometer 42,

a vacuum gauge 43, and conduits 29 and 31 at the bottom provided with two cocks whereof one serves for the discharge of the oil and the other for the discharge of the condensed steam in the jacket 2. An opening 30 at the front of the treating chamber 1 is provided with a removable cap and permits the cleaning of the bottom of the tank. The soda solution is admitted through the conduit 5 into the bottom of the treating chamber 1.

Obviously, the arrangement herein represented is given solely by way of example, and is susceptible of modifications in construction, as well as in the disposition whereby 1t may be adapted for any desired treatment.

. Claims:

1. In a completely autonomous aparatus for neutralizing and bleaching oleaginous liquids by stirring same while in the hot state and under vacuum, in combination, an oil treating chamber having a shaft extending substantially through the center of saidchamber,'helical metallic stirring means mounted upon saidshaft, a steam jacket for heating said oil treating chamber, and a steam ejector having a suction inlet connected to said oil treating chamber, a steam inlet and a discharge outlet conduit connected to said steam jacket. j

2. In a completely autonomous apparatus for neutralizing and bleaching oleaginous liquids by stirring same while in the hot state and under vacuum, in combination an oil treating chamber having a shaft extending substantially through the center of said chamber and helical metallic stirring, means mounted upon said shaft, a steam jacket for heating said oil treating chamber, a steam ejector having a suction inlet connected to said oil treating chamber, a steam inlet and a discharge outlet conduit connected to said steam jacket, a measuring tank for the oil to be treated, a reagent-tank, and conduits connecting said tanks to the oil treating chamber.

3. In a completely autonomous apparatus for neutralizing and bleaching oleaginous liquids by stirring same while in the hot state and under vacu m, 111 combination an 30 spray dome, a steam inlet and a discharge ,Oil treating chamber having a shaft extending substantially through the center of said chamber, helical metallic stirring means mounted upon said shaft, a steam jacket for heating said oil treating chamber, a steam ejector having a suction inlet connected to saidoil treating chamber, a steam inlet and a discharge outlet conduit connected to said steam jacket, a measuring tank for the oil to be treated, a measuring tank for the reagent, valve-controlled conduits respective- 1y connecting said tanks to said chamber and whereby the oil and reagent are flowed under the effect of the prevailing vacuum from their respective tanks into said oil treating chamber, and a normally air tight container for the bleaching agent mounted in the conduit connecting the oil tank to the oil treating chamber.

4. A heating and mixing installation as described for neutralizing and bleaching oils.

and the like by stirring the same in the hot state and under vacuum, comprising in combination an oil treating chamber having a steam heating jacket, an inner mixing device of helicoidal shape, a revoluble shaft within said treating chamber and upon which said mixing device is mounted, a spray dome on said treating chamber, a steam ejector having a suction inlet connected to said outlet conduit connected to the said heating jacket whereby the steam is circulated from the outlet of said ejector to said steam heating jacket of the treating chamber, a measuring tank for the oil to be treated, a conduit connecting the lower part of said measuring tank to said treating chamber, two cocks in said conduit, a box interposed between said cocks, and a reagent measuring-tank connected by a valve-controlled conduit to said mixing chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y EDOUARD BATAILLE. 

